The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has appealed to Parliament for stronger support to help address persistent challenges facing the sector and accelerate efforts to position Ghana as a premier tourism destination and cultural powerhouse in Africa.
The call was made during a meeting between officials of the Ministry and members of Parliament’s Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, led by Chairman, Alexander Hottordze. Representing the sector Minister, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Yussif Issaka Jajah, outlined the Ministry’s strategic vision and priorities for the coming years.
Addressing the Committee, Jajah emphasised the critical role tourism, culture and the creative arts play in Ghana’s economic transformation through job creation, foreign exchange generation, community development and investment attraction. He noted that the Ministry’s Medium-Term Development Plan (2026–2029) targets a 50 percent increase in tourism revenue and a 70 percent rise in both international and domestic tourist arrivals by 2029. The plan also aims to boost revenue from the culture and creative arts sector by 40 percent through market expansion, digital innovation, strategic partnerships and enhanced support for creative enterprises.
The Deputy Minister highlighted several recent achievements that demonstrate the sector’s growing momentum. Among them was the successful inscription of Highlife Music on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a milestone that strengthens Ghana’s global cultural profile. He also cited the launch of the Ghana Tourism Marketplace and the Ghana Tourism Investment Platform, initiatives designed to promote investment and expand tourism opportunities across the country.
In the area of capacity building, Jajah disclosed that 488 tourism service providers had received training, while 193 students graduated through programmes offered by the Hotel, Catering and Tourism Training Institute (HOTCATT). He further revealed that government has allocated GH¢40 million to support the film and creative arts industries, including GH¢20 million earmarked for the Film Development Fund.
Additionally, Ghana has secured a US$30 million grant from China for the rehabilitation and modernisation of the National Theatre of Ghana, a project expected to significantly strengthen the country’s creative infrastructure.
The Ministry also pointed to growing public interest in Ghana’s heritage attractions. The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, for instance, recorded a remarkable increase in its social media presence, with followers growing from approximately 475 to more than 14,000 within eight months. Meanwhile, the National Folklore Board has made progress in protecting and monetising Ghana’s cultural assets, securing royalties from 70 entities.
Despite these gains, Jajah acknowledged that several obstacles continue to hinder the sector’s growth. These include inadequate funding, delays in budget releases, infrastructure deficits, obsolete equipment, weak ICT systems, staffing shortages and low enrolment levels at HOTCATT. He stressed that overcoming these challenges would be crucial to unlocking the sector’s full potential and achieving the Ministry’s ambitious growth targets.
Responding on behalf of the Committee, Chairman Alexander Hottordze assured the Ministry of Parliament’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at strengthening the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors.
He described the engagement as timely and necessary, noting that although the Committee had been in existence for about a year and a half, it had not previously had the opportunity to engage directly with the Ministry and its agencies to fully appreciate their achievements, operations and challenges.
Hottordze acknowledged concerns raised by the Ministry, including insufficient and delayed budget allocations, logistical constraints, inadequate vehicles, deteriorating infrastructure, outdated equipment and skills gaps. He also underscored the importance of strengthening training programmes and improving facilities at HOTCATT.
The Chairman reaffirmed the Committee’s constitutional oversight role and pledged to explore ways of supporting the Ministry in addressing the challenges identified. He expressed confidence that with the necessary support, the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors could make an even greater contribution to Ghana’s socio-economic development, job creation and international competitiveness.
